I've never lived in a city with anything but buses before. Eugene (Ore.), New Haven (Conn.), Camden (Maine): all small to medium-sized towns. Seattle's a big city, but it pretends not to be. Light rail and streetcars might help it grow up.

Nonetheless, it's great. The station and system is quite well designed. On the north end, it ties in with the bus tunnel, a tube that runs from the southwest end of downtown to the northeast, allowing express travel through. The tunnel was originally designed to allow later light-rail upgrades, but the project had a flaw (in the interests of expense) that required expense rework when the time came.

Again, nonetheless, it's great. The light-rail starts at Westlake Center on the north end, which is the heart of the retail district. The South Lake Union Train (SLUT), otherwise known as the Seattle Streetcar, terminates a half block from Westlake Center.

The boys and I drove to the north end of the streetcar line, which seems nondescript today, having just the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and related treatment centers and biotech firms, but is slated to become Amazon's home starting next year. Thousands of additional workers will be along the north end of the line. One of my great desires is that people like the streetcar enough that a budget's proposed to extend it north to the University of Washington. That plus light rail would make UW a far less car-heavy place and reduce the cost of attending for those who live south.

On the way south, I chatted with a molecular biologist who lived in Mount Baker (one stop south of Beacon Hill) and worked at the Hutch. He had the perfect commute now, living 1/2 mile from the Mount Baker station.

At the Beacon Hill library, a heavily mobility impaired gent in a wheelchair heard Ben saying we had just gotten off the light rail, and he waxed enthusiastic about the system, saying he'd never come to this library before.

I realized that despite all Metro buses having handicapped accessibility, it's a hassle. You have to wait at a stop, typically in the hot outdoors, for an undetermined period of time (for late buses). The driver has to lower the bus (kneeling buses) or extend the ramp. Then you have to strapped or wheel in. Then the driver has to strap you into the seat area.

With light rail, it's self-serve. Elevators are everywhere and fast. The Beacon Hill station is 165 feet (14 stories) below street level, but there were several elevators, and it took maybe 15 seconds from top to bottom. The trains are designed with minimal gaps so a wheelchair can safely roll on or off. Nifty.

Someone smart would start building accessible housing (maybe with subsidies) near new and planned lightrail stations for just this reason. Or maybe it's already happened.

On the way back, the trains were full but not packed with Sounders fans. The Mariners had a game scheduled for 1.15 pm; the Sounders for noon; there's a 6.30 pm road run (6,000 people) and then a 7.30 pm torchlight parade. Craziness!

Parking downtown is always expensive, and driving through downtown is tedious with a light every block, buses everywhere, tourists crossing en masse. This suddenly makes downtown exceptionally appealing.

The next extension of light rail will come to our neighborhood, but not until 2016 (assuming it's on schedule, which is possible). The extension that voters approved goes from downtown to UW, and might pass nearly under our house. Not hoping for that (unless I could put a chute to hop on a train in the basement), but it will likely be deep enough that we won't feel anything.

We're finally developing a world-class city here.

I trust you noticed the great business name across the street (in one direction) from the Beacon Hill station: Chop Shop. Which is a barber shop. Ooops, expensive barber shop: hair stylist.

If you like Thai food, try Thai Palms, about a four block walk back toward downtown from the Othello station. Pretty good (not up to Khu Larb standard) and not expensive. Just before reaching Thai Palms you walk by an East African restaurant which I haven't tried (yet).

I'm sold on the ORCA card. My light rail trial on Monday the 20th involved driving to Tacoma, taking Sounder to Seattle, light rail to Beacon Hill #I wanted to see the silly but nifty art#. Walk around a block at Beacon Hill, then light rail to Westlake.

Then light rail to Tukwila station #where I saw the fare machine shortage--Seattle Times today said they are doubling the machine count--ORCA bypasses that#, the free shuttle to the airport #better restroom# and back to Tukwila, then to Westlake again by light rail, and up to the food court floor restroom. Then bus to the U district, walk around, back by bus.

Then bus to Bellevue park and ride, walk around, return by bus, then Sounder back to Tacoma.

With ORCA, no cash out of pocket #and no carrying exact change or hassles with senior status# for all that #and less total outlay than I would have tried to achieve with transfers, since ORCA figures that out and "pushes" the rules as far as they go#.

Plus, the ORCA web site has a very complete display of the use of the card #not good for hiding from spouse#.

*And of course, Good-To-Go payment across Tacoma Narrows Bridge. No cash there, either #and Tacoma Dome Station parking is free#.